Vaha spoke for the first time about Morocco after the World Cup: They took away my pride ...
The Moroccan national football team was one of the sensations of the recently concluded World Cup.
The Atlas Lions became the first African team to play in the semifinals of the World Cup, and was led at the Qatar Championships by Walid Regraui.
As a reminder, Morocco eventually took fourth place in the tournament, after being defeated by Croatia in the bronze medal match.
This success of Morocco was very much accepted in this African country, so upon his return, the players and selector Walid Regragui had a reception with King Mohammed VI.
On that occasion, the current coach also remembered his predecessor Vahid Halilhodžić, a great BiH expert, who is most deserving that Morocco got the opportunity to play at the World Cup. Namely, Halilhodžić successfully qualified with Morocco, without the biggest stars (Ziyech, Mazraoui), but then they issued an ultimatum – us or Halilhodžić.
In the end, a few months before the World Cup, Halilhodžić was sacked.
"Bravo and a big thank you to Vahid Halilhodzic who did a great job and who created this group of players. That's where I brought my mentality. I brought something new and it was the players who sacrificed themselves to see off everything I ask of them," Regragui said in an address to the Moroccan public.
Halilhodžić was as restrained as possible during the World Cup and did not want to comment on morocco's games at all. He has now made a statement.
"You know I haven't commented on anything about Morocco at all. I got a call from journalists from Morocco, from the region... But it's hard for me to say anything. And these words can't wash away my bitterness, and they can't make up for what I missed with this tournament. They took away my pride, I can't forget or forgive them. Because it was supposed to be my farewell to my coaching career as well. That's all I can say on the subject," said 70-year-old Vahid Halilhodzic.